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Let's start at the beginning, rather than at the point I got my RX7.
I was born. Nope. I'm not a ghost...
I was home schooled, so that explains anything you don't get about me.
When I was 12, my Dad had picked up an RX7 at an estate auction for $500
Specs:
Year:1979
Miles: 70k miles
Engine: 12A with compression that seems low to me. It has about 85psi and there's lots of smoke when it first starts.
Transmission: 4 speed manual. I've since upgraded it to a 5 speed.
Ignition: Converted from points to electronic.
These are photos from when we first got it.
At the age of 16, I started working on restoring it. This was after sitting for 4 years and getting it road worthy.
It took all summer to get it going.This was very pivotal in learning how cars worked and how to fix them.
At some point, we found a parts car in the junkyard. There was no compression on that engine, so I just used it for everything that was broken or horribly mouse infested in this car. (That was everything)
The next year, we got it painted by a friend.
After driving it for a year, it needed a frame repair, so I made this thing. Not the easiest way to weld the frame, for sure.
And here it is in it's former glory. Yes. That's right. Former. It has developed a couple of rust spots in the last 10 years since painting it.
Now I'm finally giving it a ported engine. Only things left to get for that, are an intake manifold and a Holley sniper.
Oh and I need to do some more major frame repairs now. The left front wheel looks like it has a super bad tie rod end, but it's actually the frame moving.
I think I'll weld the frame while I'm replacing the engine.
Edit: I've also changed the wheels to some stock aluminum rims. Those hub caps are terrible for this car. Especially from straight behind. More photos to come, if I ever get around to it.
As for personal interests:
I love fixing electronics. So much, that I've made repairing graphics cards my main job.
Skiing
Ultimate Frisbee
Scottish country dancing
Helping people
Learning new things about computers and electronics.
RX7s are a given, but I really like fixing basically anything.
Thanks for reading!
To all those who didn't get this far, You're smart. Reading this would have been a waste of your time.
Last edited by Drastic Repairs; 07-06-22 at 10:38 AM.
Reason: Added a note about new rims.
Great story and welcome to the forums. Something tells me you'll be hooked on these cars for life. I got my first one when I was 19 and am still tinkering with them some 43 years later.
Welcome to the forum! You've done a great job restoring the car and I think the blue looks great as does the targa band. The hub caps on the other hand....well..they look like they belong on a Chrysler. Perhaps a set of nice original waffle wheels would look much better. But if you like the hub caps then by all means use them and enjoy them!
Great story and welcome to the forums. Something tells me you'll be hooked on these cars for life. I got my first one when I was 19 and am still tinkering with them some 43 years later.
Thanks! I think you're right. I'll always love these cars. It's cool that you've been into them for so long.
Welcome to the forum! You've done a great job restoring the car and I think the blue looks great as does the targa band. The hub caps on the other hand....well..they look like they belong on a Chrysler. Perhaps a set of nice original waffle wheels would look much better. But if you like the hub caps then by all means use them and enjoy them!
Thanks!
Haha. Yeah. I replaced the hub caps with original aluminum rims at the same time as I replaced the transmission. I hated them, too. I really need to get another photo of the car, now.
07-05-22, 02:15 PM
